Screech Bats are a relatively new London based four piece bat-shit-crazy punk rock band. This 4 track EP is the bands first release and definitely sets the band out as a force to be reckoned with. The band features Kitty and Lexi from Hearts Under Fire, who along with Rio and Esme, have created something quite special.
Opener Pathologigirl, (try saying that 3 times real quick) has got riffs for days, hard hitting drums, gang vocals, melodies, a breakdown and a guitar solo; in short, it’s bloody awesome! Kitty Upton is one of my favourite guitarists and she absolutely kills it on this track. In fact, this whole EP contains some outstanding guitar work. The full on frantic punk rock attack of Kiss Me In The Rain (So I Get Wet Twice) has bucketloads of melody and is catchy as hell but a quick warning: Lexi’s playing on this track may cause spontaneous involuntary air drumming!
E.T. is a heavier, grittier number with a cracking vocal from Esme and some nimble fingered bass work from Rio, its possibly my favourite on song the EP, a good combination of the heaviness and melody that is all over these 4 tracks. The EP finishes up with Maybe Honesty Works? which is another riff-heavy track with a huge chorus and definitely closes things in style.
Screech Bats have created a great first EP, with some class songwriting and excellent musicianship – and one that is absolutely worthy of your time and money.
9/10
